Volunteer roles

Join a dynamic board supporting primary schools in diverse, deprived areas. Use your strategic finance skills to shape the trust’s future, ensure sustainability, and help every child thrive through smart, impactful use of resources.

What will you be doing?

We are seeking a Lead Finance Trustee to join our committed and dynamic board of trustees, working to support primary schools in some of the most socially diverse and economically deprived areas. This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced and strategically-minded finance professional to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children.

As Lead Finance Trustee, you will play a vital role in shaping the trust’s financial strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability and effective resource allocation. You will use your knowledge of strategic financial management to help oversee budgets, support informed decision-making, and provide robust challenge and assurance to the executive team.

Your expertise will help ensure that public funds are used wisely and transparently, so that every pound spent has a direct, positive impact on pupils. Working closely with other trustees and leaders, you’ll help ensure the trust’s priorities align with its mission to support children in overcoming barriers, reaching their full potential, and thriving at school.

This is an opportunity to apply your skills and values where they truly matter—supporting equity in education and contributing to brighter futures for the next generation.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a finance professional with the vision, integrity and commitment to contribute meaningfully to the strategic leadership of our trust. As Lead Finance Trustee, you will provide expert guidance and challenge on the trust’s financial sustainability and ensure that public funding is used effectively to support the best possible outcomes for children.

You should bring:

• Proven experience in strategic financial leadership, ideally at board or senior management level, within a public, private or charitable sector organisation
• A strong understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, risk management, and long-term financial planning
• The ability to interpret complex financial information and communicate it clearly to non-financial colleagues
• A track record of constructive challenge and oversight, with sound judgement and a strategic mindset

While experience in education is not essential, an understanding of public sector funding, academy trust structures, or governance in a regulated environment would be advantageous.

You will also bring the following personal qualities:

• A commitment to educational equality and improving life chances for children in disadvantaged communities
• Independence of thought, professional curiosity, and a willingness to challenge assumptions in the best interests of pupils
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a diverse and values-driven board
• Integrity, discretion, and a deep sense of accountability for public resources

This voluntary role is ideal for someone who wants to apply their financial expertise to a cause that matters. You’ll play a key part in helping us deliver sustainable, high-impact education for children who need it most.

What difference will you make?

As Lead Finance Trustee, your influence will reach far beyond balance sheets.

You will ensure that financial decisions directly translate into better outcomes for children, particularly those facing disadvantage. By applying your expertise, you’ll help the trust allocate resources effectively—supporting high-quality teaching, inclusive learning environments, and targeted interventions where they’re needed most.

Your strategic oversight will:

• Strengthen the trust’s financial resilience, enabling it to adapt and grow sustainably
• Guarantee that public funds are used transparently and in the best interests of children
• Help shape long-term goals that reflect the needs of diverse, underserved communities
• Provide assurance to stakeholders, parents, and regulators that the trust’s finances are robust and ethically managed

Ultimately, your role will empower the trust to deliver on its mission: to raise aspirations and improve life chances for every child.

Before you apply

A simple CV or application plus an informal interview to assess suitability

Join the Board of The Gestalt Centre as a Treasurer or a new Trustee, and help shape their ambitious growth strategy with the life-changing approach to counselling, psychotherapy and organisational development – applications from first time Trustees are very welcome.

• Interviews will be held in June 2025

About The Gestalt Centre

The Gestalt Centre is an established educational and therapy charity, supporting the mental and psychological well-being of individuals, groups, and organisations.

Gestalt is a humanistic life-changing approach to life, counselling and psychotherapy. It enables people and organisations to manage change, develop meaningful relationships and lead fulfilling lives by creatively utilising their own resources, skills and strengths.

We are a dynamic organisation and run several accredited counselling and psychotherapy courses, along with professional development programmes for practitioners and organisations. We also offer affordable therapy and counselling and are a hub for a range of health and wellbeing practices for people in the community.

We value awareness and change, collaborative working, diversity and the view that we are all connected and therefore together responsible for our communities.

About the roles

The Gestalt Centre is a registered charity with a Board of Trustees and a Board of Directors. The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the organisation carries out its purposes and for overall planning and good governance. The Directors (executive and non-executive) make decisions about strategy, the running of the organisation and oversee the work of the Psychotherapy faculty, the Counselling faculty and the management team.

Purpose of the role

Trustees are legally responsible for all aspects of the Charity, including:

• agreeing the purpose and strategy
• ensuring the Charity is financially viable
• making sure a charity does what it was set up to, which includes making decisions about how it is run

Operational matters are delegated to the CEO and the Executive.

Who we are looking for

We’re also seeking new Trustees who can strengthen our expertise in critical areas as we look to strengthen our Board to devise and deliver our ambitious plans. We are keen to hear from people with experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Events management 
• Fundraising
• Property 
• Higher Education
• Marketing and Social Media 

We are looking for a new Treasurer who will be a strategic thinker with good knowledge of charity accounting and the Charity SORP, and can ensure sound financial management. You will bring commercial acumen to guide our financial strategy during a transformative period.

You will also oversee our financial governance, reserve investment, and risk management while contributing your broader strategic insights and experience across all aspects of our work.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Interviews will be held in June 2025.

Overview

The Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes (TASO) is an affiliate What Works Centre, and part of the UK Government’s What Works Movement. Our vision is to eliminate equality gaps in higher education (HE). Our mission is to improve lives through evidence-informed practice.

TASO was set up in 2019 and became an independent charity in April 2021. Our work focuses on the generation, synthesis and dissemination of high-quality evidence about effective practice in widening participation and student outcomes. We primarily focus on developing and disseminating causal evidence. 

We are now looking to appoint new Trustees to take TASO forward into its next phase of development and ensure we are an effective and impactful organisation. This is a great time to join us on our journey, offering the opportunity to contribute to shaping and developing an organisation that has the potential to transform lives.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people who are values-led with wide-ranging experiences across different sectors who can bring a different way of thinking. Above all, our Trustees will be passionate about what TASO is striving to achieve.

We are looking for a number of new people with the following professional experience to join our Board:

• Finance and accountancy
• Risk
• People
• Charity and/or company law

We expect the time commitment to be a day a month. This will include quarterly meetings, occasional considered input into working groups and attendance at sector events.

We are looking for one, or more, of our new trustees to sit on our finance and risk committee. 

You do not necessarily need to have any experience of being a trustee; TASO will give you a full induction and support to help you develop into this role.

We are committed to diversifying the Board and welcome applications from people whose identities are currently under-represented on the Board: LGBTQ+ people, disabled people and Black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

For a confidential discussion about the opportunity please contact: Omar Khan CEO of TASO

For more information on the role please visit the TASO website

How to apply 

To apply, please visit the TASO website

Deadline for applications: 9am Thursday 22nd May

Do you want to help promote social mobility, and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)? Can you play a valuable strategic leadership role in a charity that supports young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve their potential and progress to careers in STEM?

Remuneration: The Trustee role is not remunerated, travel and other reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Location: Remote, with one in person strategy meeting in London per year.

Time Commitment: Four board meetings per year, plus up to three virtual committee meetings per year (depending on committee membership) and a small amount of support and advice as required between meetings.

Application Submission: The application deadline is 17:00 on the 2nd of June 2025 

Overview of In2scienceUK

In2scienceUK is a charity with a mission to empower young people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve upward social mobility by unlocking their potential to access degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). 

Responsibilities

The role of a Trustee is to ensure that In2scienceUK fulfils its duty to the young people with whom it works and delivers on its vision. The trustees of In2scienceUK fulfil an essential and influential role, and have the opportunity to both support the activities and strategic decision making of the charity.

Trustees have collective responsibility for the strategy and oversight of the charity and the trustee board works as a team to fulfill its statutory role, to provide help and advice to the staff team, and to represent the organisation in their respective networks.

The expected duties of an In2scienceUK trustee are:

•  To contribute actively to teamwork within the Board of Trustees, providing strong strategic direction to the organisation in line with its mission and purpose.
• To safeguard the reputation and values of In2scienceUK and ensure the effective and efficient administration and financial stability of In2scienceUK.
• Support the effective running of the organisation, by scrutinising the work of the leadership team in a way that is supportive and motivational. Trustees collectively hold executive staff to account for their performance, are involved in executive appointments as appropriate and appoint a Chief Executive Officer whenever necessary.
• Serve in one or more subgroups of the board for a deeper dive into Income/Growth, Operational Assurance, Evaluation & Learning, and People.
• To ensure that in2scienceUK complies with articles of association and fulfils charity commission responsibilities.

Experience and skills

The most important characteristic of our trustees is a commitment to helping young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds access social mobility through careers in STEM, and so helping to ensure that the STEM professions are populated by people reflecting diverse backgrounds, in all respects including socio-economic background.

We need the right mix of skills overall and anticipate making 4-6 appointments in this round who will work collaboratively to ensure good governance and the success of the organisation. Specific areas where we would like to strengthen the team, bearing in mind our natural turnover and our strategy for the future, are listed below. If you are able to contribute in one or more of these areas, please make this especially clear in your application.

Lived experience: Personal experience of transitioning into STEM degrees and careers from an underrepresented background.

• We are interested in applications from young people still going through this transition, for example undertaking undergraduate study, and for whom we can provide additional support in the trustee role as needed; we see this as an excellent development opportunity and a chance to get governance and leadership experience on the CV in line with our overall mission.

• We would welcome applications from current In2scienceUK participants and alumni. Trustees are required to be 18 years or older.

• We are also interested in hearing from people with current experience of working with young people undertaking this transition.

Professional expertise:  Finance, Communications, HR, Governance, Entrepreneurship, Fundraising and philanthropy, Career advice/coaching

• The whole of the board is responsible for key decisions such as budget setting, strategy, policies and prioritisation, however it is useful to have subject experts who can take a functional lead on helping ensure colleagues are asking the right questions and getting good answers.

Commercial contacts:  An understanding of corporate social responsibility and sponsorship, networks in industries and organisations that employ STEM professionals

Subject areas: Personal experience and industry or academic contacts in the following subject areas 

• Maths/Computing/AI, 

• Life Sciences, 

• Physical Engineering.

Treasurer: We are currently seeking a Treasurer to join the board of Trustees and take the lead on finance. This is an immediate vacancy with our current Treasurer coming to the end of their term. The Treasurer will be a qualified accountant. We are looking for people who have pre-existing experience or desire to support an organisation of our size. As such, the role will be both providing financial oversight and governance as well as providing advice, support and guidance to our executive team. Those applying without prior charity accounting experience should be willing to undertake any relevant training.

Chair succession: While not an immediate appointment, as part of managing Chair succession we are interested in people who would be candidates for a chair designate role and chair in due course, probably via an initial Vice Chair position within the organisation. 

For those who have any further questions or would like an initial discussion about these roles with our current Chair, Jonathan Flowers, please contact us. ( Our email address can be found in the documents under 'Application resources').

Recruitment Process

The application deadline is 17:00 on the 2nd of June 2025 

Please send a covering letter and CV about how you would contribute to the work of the trustee board . Please ensure you set out specifically how you would want to contribute and the experience, skills or insights you would offer us, based on the list of skills and experiences above. We would like each applicant to include a concise (no more than 2 sides of A4) cover letter that goes beyond repeating their CV.

Equal opportunities

In2scienceUK is committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity for all staff and trustees. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of ethnicity, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our commitment to creating a more inclusive environment, we ask all applicants to complete an equality and diversity monitoring form ( link can be found in the 'How to apply' section on Charity Job). This information is collected anonymously and used solely for monitoring and reporting purposes. It helps us to better understand who we are reaching, identify gaps in representation, and ensure that opportunities at In2scienceUK are accessible to all. All responses are kept confidential in line with data protection regulations.

Governance

We kindly ask all prospective trustees to complete a Declaration of Interest form as part of the application process. This helps ensure transparency and allows us to assess any potential conflicts of interest, ensuring the best governance for our charity. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work to strengthen our board and further our mission.

Interview and selection

Successful candidates from the application stage will be interviewed by existing trustees.  The interviews will all be held via Zoom and take place between the 7th and 21st of July.

Safeguarding

In2scienceUK is committed to our responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children. We are committed to recruiting trustees who share this commitment to safeguarding, and therefore we apply robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment. 

The following checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

• DBS check and/or Overseas criminal records check where applicable

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Further information can be found in the documents below.

As a Trustee of Durham Action on Single Housing (DASH), you will work alongside other board members to provide strategic leadership and governance to the charity. Your primary role will be to ensure that DASH meets its charitable objectives and complies with legal and regulatory requirements. Trustees are responsible for overseeing the direction of the charity, ensuring financial sustainability, and ensuring effective delivery of services to individuals in need of housing support.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership:
   • Work with fellow trustees to set the strategic direction of DASH.
   • Ensure that the charity’s mission is being fulfilled and that its activities align with its objectives.
   • Provide guidance and support in decision-making, ensuring that the charity stays relevant to the needs of its service users.
2. Governance & Oversight:
   • Ensure that the charity is properly governed, complies with legal and regulatory requirements, and adheres to its constitution and policies.
   • Oversee the performance of the Director and senior leadership team, offering guidance and support as needed.
   • Monitor the charity’s financial health, ensuring appropriate financial controls, budgeting, and reporting mechanisms are in place.
3. Financial Management:
   • Approve the annual budget and ensure effective use of resources.
   • Monitor and manage financial risks and help ensure the charity remains financially viable.
   • Support fundraising efforts and ensure the charity meets its financial targets and fundraising goals.
4. Advocacy & Representation:
   • Act as an ambassador for DASH, promoting its work and advocating for the needs of single housing tenants.
   • Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, other charities, funders, and the community.
   • Provide expertise in areas such as housing, legal, fundraising, or community services to assist in achieving the charity’s objectives.
5. Risk Management:
   • Identify and assess potential risks to the charity and help develop strategies to mitigate them.
   • Ensure the charity operates within a framework that balances risk and opportunity, ensuring the safety and well-being of service users.
6. Board Development:
   • Participate in board meetings and decision-making processes, providing insight, expertise, and constructive feedback.
   • Help recruit new trustees and contribute to the development of the board, ensuring its skills and diversity align with the charity’s needs.
7. Compliance & Reporting:
   • Ensure DASH meets all legal and regulatory obligations, including Charity Commission requirements.
   • Ensure that DASH’s work is transparent and that all reports (financial, impact, and governance) are accurate and timely.

Person Specification:

• Passion for housing issues and the work of DASH.
• Strong commitment to the values and mission of the charity.
• Previous experience in a governance or leadership role, preferably within the charity sector.
• Knowledge of housing, social justice, or related sectors is desirable but not essential.
• Strong communication, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and constructively with other trustees, staff, and stakeholders.
• Experience in financial oversight and risk management would be an asset.

Time Commitment:

Trustees typically meet Bi monthly , with additional subcommittee meetings and ad-hoc responsibilities. Meetings may be in-person or virtual, depending on the needs of the organisation.

Benefits:

• The opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of individuals in housing need.
• Gain valuable experience in governance, financial management, and leadership.
• Work with a dedicated and passionate group of individuals who share a common vision.

Join the Board of an organisation that is changing places and changing lives.

Groundwork is the community charity with a green heart. Our mission is to create a fair and green future in which people, places and nature thrive. We believe that big global issues – the economy, the environment – have a big local impact. Groundwork East operates throughout the East of England helping communities find practical solutions to the challenges they face. We have a profound moral commitment to respond and grow to meet the anticipated demand for our services.

Role: Non-Executive Director / Trustee
Groundwork East has almost 40 years of experience in delivering bespoke projects that use the environment as a catalyst for building a more sustainable future.

Groundwork involves residents, businesses and other local organisations in practical projects that improve the quality of life, bring about regeneration, and lay the foundations to make sustainable development a reality in local communities.

Our mission has never been more important and we are seeking passionate and committed Trustees who want to drive growth and be part of our ambitious plans. We are deeply committed to being representative of the areas we serve and invite applications from all areas of society.

We are looking for up to 4 trustees to join our strong and engaged Board to bring fresh ideas and new insights with skills developed through lived experience. Expertise that is of particular interest to us includes:

• Finance
• The Environment including energy and water management
• Communications and Marketing
• Knowledge of key partnership networks in our region
• Fundraising and Income generation
• Charity law and Governance

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to securing diversity amongst our Board of Trustees.

> We understand the importance of managing your data securely. Find out how we process data in our privacy notice.

Closing Date: 2 June 2025

Stage 1 interview (by phone) 16-19 June 2025

Stage 2 Interview (in person) Wednesday 9 July 2025

Join our Trust with a unified vision for educational excellence as a Trustee and influence how our schools operate, improve and evolve.

Location: Hybrid / Peterborough and North Cambridgeshire

Time commitment: 4 board meetings + 3 committee meetings / year

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 9th June

Thomas Deacon Education Trust (TDET) is a thriving multi-academy trust serving over 5,500 pupils across seven academies, including primary, secondary, all-through and alternative provision schools. We are proud of our strong community focus and the work we do to empower communities through high-quality education across Peterborough and North Cambridgeshire.

We are now seeking passionate, high-calibre individuals to join our Board of Trustees, particularly those with expertise in finance and estates/infrastructure.

These are key appointments at a time of strategic transformation and increasing operational efficiency. You’ll help shape the future of our Trust, support the executive team and ensure we continue delivering high-quality education for all children and young people across our diverse communities.

Who we are

Our Trust was established to bring together local schools under a unified vision for educational excellence, community service and sustainable growth. We currently operate seven schools — five in Peterborough and two to the south in Cambridgeshire — across primary, secondary, all-through and alternative provision settings.

We have matured as an organisation, embedding centralised services (HR, IT, Estates, Finance), promoting stronger curriculum alignment across schools and building a sense of collective identity. Like all multi-academy trusts, we continue to face challenges, especially around funding, SEND provision and estate management, however, we remain committed to progress. All of our schools have been inspected in the last three years, and our improvement journey is well underway.

Our governance model is evolving. We’re reintroducing two subcommittees — Education Committee and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee — in 2025/2026. Trustees meet three times per year for full board meetings and three times for the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee and Education Committee.

Our high-performing board currently has a strong educational presence, with trustees drawn from school and higher education backgrounds. However, we are thin on numbers and underrepresented in critical areas.

Now, we are particularly seeking individuals from finance, business services and estates sectors to strengthen our ability to challenge, support and guide the Trust as it enters its next phase.

We do not stand still as a Trust. Our new Trustees will join at an exciting time as we undergo new complex estates projects (e.g., a multimillion-pound roof repair at Thomas Deacon Academy), evolving community partnerships and growing cross-trust collaboration. We are ready for the next step, and we need exceptional trustees to help lead the way.

About the role

As a Trustee, you will play a key role in the strategic leadership and governance of the Trust. This is a high-impact, voluntary role with real influence over how our schools operate, improve and evolve. Your focus will be to ensure that the Trust is delivering on its educational mission while remaining financially sustainable and operationally sound.

We are particularly looking to appoint individuals to:

• Join the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee or Education Committee
• Provide strategic and technical oversight of finance, audit, or capital/infrastructure projects
• Chair the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, if suitably experienced

You’ll be part of a collaborative, values-driven board that works closely with a dedicated executive team. Your insights will help guide decisions around budget setting, estates investment, compliance and educational outcomes. You’ll need to commit to regular reading of board papers, engage in meaningful discussion at meetings and support the executive team with scrutiny and challenge.

Meetings are a mix of online and in-person formats, with the flexibility to accommodate professional commitments. While we have a strong preference for candidates based in or connected to Peterborough or Cambridgeshire, we are open to outstanding individuals from further afield who share our mission and can commit the necessary time and attention.

The role is voluntary, but the impact is profound: you’ll be helping shape the education, life chances and wellbeing of thousands of young people across the region.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking candidates with a passion for education and a deep commitment to public service. Your professional background might be in finance, audit, capital projects, or estates management, ideally with experience overseeing budgets, risk, or infrastructure in complex organisations.

We’re especially interested in individuals who can bring:

• Finance expertise (accounting, audit, financial oversight)
• Capital or estates experience (infrastructure, property, construction)
• Leadership experience within high-accountability or regulatory environments
• Strategic mindset, with the ability to interpret data, challenge assumptions and support sound decision-making

We would also value:

• Familiarity with multi-academy trusts or the Academy Trust Handbook
• Experience chairing audit or governance committees
• Links to our local communities in Peterborough and South Cambridgeshire

Equally important is who you are as a person: communicative, thoughtful, committed and unafraid to ask the difficult questions. We’re looking for trustees who bring a mix of professionalism and heart, who care deeply about equity, diversity and inclusive education and who want to make a tangible difference.

We are committed to building a board that reflects the rich diversity of our schools and their communities.

If you want to be part of a Trust that’s ambitious, community-rooted and on a clear improvement trajectory, then we would love to hear from you.

Peridot and Thomas Deacon Education Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

We seek candidates with experience across various sectors to bring their expertise to the non-executive leadership of our Trust.

About Forward Education Trust

Forward Education Trust aims to provide high-quality education and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Their primary objective is to create an inclusive learning environment that fosters academic, social, and emotional development. The trust is committed to improving educational outcomes, promoting independence, and ensuring equal opportunities for all students.

What will you be doing?

Our Executive Leaders work alongside Trustees as a team, united by the shared purpose of achieving the Trust’s vision and mission. As a Trustee, you will be expected to attend our main board meetings four times a year, with additional meetings depending on the committee you join. Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the Trust, including its financial health, the integrity of its activities, and the development of the organisation’s aims, objectives, and goals in line with the governing document, legal, and regulatory guidelines. This responsibility encompasses both the Trust’s culture and its performance. Governing a successful school trust is a challenging and demanding role, but it is also highly rewarding, with the opportunity to work alongside like-minded, supportive colleagues.

For full details please request a copy of the candidate pack.

What are we looking for?

Trustees bring a diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience to the Board.

The basic requirements for applicants are enthusiasm and a commitment to working collaboratively with others for the benefit of the Trust and its objectives.

We are currently seeking candidates with experience and expertise in:

· Human Resources - Our staff are the most important part of making our schools a success

· Education - Ideally state-funded, at any age-range, in senior positions from Deputy Headteacher upwards

· Financial Management - Whether in education, other public bodies, commercial enterprise or accountancy practice

· Business Operations - Including project management and multi-site operations

· Information Technology - Contributing to our digital systems for sustainability

What Difference will you make?

As a Trustee, your expertise and leadership will directly shape the future of Forward Education Trust and the students we serve. By ensuring strong governance and strategic decision-making, you will help our seven special schools provide the highest quality education for children with complex learning and physical needs. Your role as a Trustee will provide the support and accountability needed to create stable, thriving school environments where children with special educational needs can flourish, achieve their full potential, and transition into fulfilling adult lives.

Time Commitment

The estimated commitment for this role is between one and three hours per week.

We are looking for two dedicated Lay Trustees who will join our Board to support the strategic direction of the charity. We are member-led, funded by our universities and together with students we strive to create a world class student experience for all.

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in our Lay Trustee roles here at Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union (The SU); based in beautiful Cornwall. We're very pleased to announce the opening of applications for our esteemed Board of Trustees. We are very proud of what we do, and we are looking for two dedicated Lay Trustees who will join our Board to support the strategic direction of the charity. You will need to share the values of the SU and commitment to achieve our priorities, working collaboratively to help take us to the next level. We are a member-led charity, funded by our universities and together with students we strive to create a world class student experience for all.

Our membership comprises of students studying with both Falmouth University and the University of Exeter (Cornwall) which creates a unique and special experience of which we love to be a key part of.

The role of Lay Trustee provides an opportunity to support our President Trustees and Student Trustees, foster a culture of student leadership and deliver a student focused service.

You will be taking up the role at a critical and exciting time, as we are undertaking two crucial pieces of work: finalising our new 2025-2028 strategic plan, and beginning the quintennial review of our Constitution.  If you are excited at the prospect of contributing to the growth and development of the SU, then we eagerly anticipate the possibility of working alongside you to shape the future of our organisation.

We are especially keen to hear from applicants with experience in Finance, Higher Education, Human Resources, Charity or Employment Law.

About Us

We’re an autonomous organisation and we’re funded by the University of Exeter and Falmouth University. Acting independently ensures that we remain entirely focused on our students with one purpose in mind: to improve their student experience.

As a registered charity (1193045), our charitable purpose is the advancement of education, and our funds can for used for this charitable purpose only. This means that as a not-for-profit organisation: any income we gain goes straight back into providing services for students.

We are a member-led democratic organisation; our students are at the heart of everything we do. Our members views, opinions and experiences regarding students’ lives influence decision makers operating at every level, helping to shape the wider student experience and we enjoy positive collaborative relationships with both universities. Students have the power to shape what the Union does through our Annual Student Members’ Meetings and referenda, and they lead our Student Forum, which determine our Union priorities.

We are proud of the range of opportunities and services that we provide to students, which includes student led societies and sports clubs, volunteering opportunities, professional independent specialist advice, academic representation, and democratic activities. We also help students to organise a wide range of events and activities specifically for their fellow students.

Our Board

Our board is unique in the charity sector. We have a young and dynamic board; two thirds of the trustees are either recent or current students at the universities resulting in a purposefully high turnover of trustees. The charity is based in a complex, ever-changing Higher Education sector, working closely with two very different universities.

We have three sets of Trustees:

• Four President Trustees: a President and Vice President from each university, elected by cross-campus ballot. These are student leaders who have either just finished their degree or take a sabbatical to take up this role, in which they are also a full-time employee. Term: one year, maximum of two terms.

• Four Student Trustees: two from each university, appointed via the Appointments Committee. These are current students who offer direct insight into university life. Term: two years, maximum of two terms.

• Four Lay Trustees: appointed via the Appointments Committee. These trustees offer expertise, continuity, and insight. They are experienced, skilled members who enjoy being part of a dynamic board and supporting the younger trustees. Term: three years, maximum of three terms.

The Chair of the Board will always be a President Trustee, and the Deputy Chair will always be a Lay Trustee. Any Trustee can chair one of our three sub-committees: Finance, Appointments, Remuneration and Human Resources.

Why Should You Become a Trustee?

Being a Trustee is a valuable and rewarding experience. You’ll get to make a lasting difference to the lives of our students, and influence how the Union is run. You will use your skills, knowledge, and experience to support the Board in reaching sound decisions. You will be involved in leading discussions, making collective decisions, and identifying key issues. You’ll have the opportunity to mentor and support our President and Student Trustees. As a Lay Trustee, you are eligible to become Deputy Chair of the Board, or Chair of one of the sub-committees.

You will receive comprehensive induction training, and further training relevant to your role as a Chair or member of a sub-committee.

Job Description

We’re looking for someone to work collectively with our board of trustees to provide support and strategic direction to our Students’ Union.

Remuneration: Lay Trustees are voluntary, unpaid roles. However, all reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed, such as travel costs to board meetings.

Hours: Hours can vary however typically each year:

• Four Board of Trustees meetings – each meeting is around three hours long conducted online.

• Additional two (eight for Finance) sub-committees meetings conducted online – each meeting is around 45 minutes.

• There are usually one or two in-person events per year including a Board of Trustees meeting – each event is usually a day and/or an evening event. These are delivered in Cornwall (expenses paid).

Term of office: three years, up to three terms.

Location: Homebased with one or two in-person events in Cornwall per year.

Role Purpose

The Trustees are ultimately responsible, individually and collectively, for all activity within the SU. The Board is legally responsible for our staff, finances, risk management and reputation. The Board is responsible for setting the vision and values of the organisation and for ensuring the delivery of organisational purpose. The Trustees ensure development of and agree a long-term strategy. They approve and monitor plans to deliver the strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• To ensure The SU acts in accordance with its charitable purpose, constitution and other governing documents and relevant legislation while remaining true to its Mission, Vision and Values.

• To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees role by determining the Students’ Union strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

• Ensure The SU uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects/purpose.

• Act as guardians of The SU’s assets and ensure the financial stability of the organisation.

• Prepare for Board meetings by reading through materials and Board papers beforehand, scrutinising information and be able to discuss issues.

• Take advice on matters on which you are not competent to decide.

• Provide support to President Trustees and Student Trustees.

• Take part in Board Reviews and Skills Audits each year.

• Use personal skills and experience to ensure the Union is well-run and efficient

• Seek external professional advice where there may be material risk to the Union or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties or at any other appropriate moment.

• Add value to the Trustee Board and the Union through generating ideas, challenging the status quo, broadening thinking and supporting and promoting innovation and creativity.

• Abide by the Union Trustee Code of Conduct.

CRITERIA

All Trustees must display the following characteristics

Commitment to and passion for The SU.

Willingness and reliability to devote the necessary time and effort.

Strategic vision.

Good, independent judgment.

Ability to think creatively.

An understanding of and commitment to the values and principles of student representation and democracy.

Willingness to speak their mind.

Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.

Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.

Responsible, especially when handling sensitive and confidential information.

A commitment to act in accordance with the Nolan principles for ethical conduct in public service.

We are looking for individuals who have skills, knowledge or experience in one or more of these sectors

Finance

Higher Education

Human Resources

Charity or Employment Law

How To Apply

Please visit the role posting on our website for further details on how to apply. We require the completion of a Person Details form, and Skills Audit spreadsheets, along with your CV and covering letter. The deadline for applications is 09:00 on Friday 16 May. Interviews will take place online via MS Teams on Wednesday 21 May, an additional slot is also available on Thursday 22 May if this is not convenient.

You must be available to attend Trustee Training on Friday 20 June, and Board of Trustees on Wednesday 25 June (as an observer), both online via MS Teams. Your term of office will start on Tuesday 1 July.

Eligibility

There are strict conditions placed on charity Trustees by law and all applicants must declare that they are eligible to become a charity Trustee. You will not be eligible if:

• You are on the Sex Offenders’ Register

• You have any unspent conviction for an offence involving:

o deception or dishonesty

o terrorist offences

o money laundering

o bribery

o misconduct in public office, perjury, perverting the course of justice

o contravention of certain preventative Orders of the Charity Commission (Section 77 of the Charities Act 2011)

o attempting, aiding or abetting the above offences

• You have any designation under specific anti-terrorist legislation

• You have been convicted of contempt of court

• You have been removed from:

o trusteeship, or as an officer, agent or employee of a charity by the Court or the Commission for misconduct or mismanagement

o a position of management or control of a charity in Scotland for mismanagement or misconduct

• You have been found guilty by the High court of disobeying a Commission order or direction

• You have an undischarged bankruptcy

• You have a composition or arrangement with creditors which includes an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) and is currently on the Insolvency Service Register

As part of the recruitment process, we will ask you to sign a declaration that you are legally entitled to become a Trustee and commit the required time.

Data Protection

We’re committed to data protection and it’s important to know what’s happening with your data when you apply for a role. That means we’ll only use the information you supply for the purposes of progressing your application (or to fulfil legal or regulatory requirements if necessary) and we’ll never share your information with any third parties for marketing purposes or store it outside of the European Economic Area.

Equal Opportunities

We’re committed to ensuring our workforce accurately reflects the diversity of the world we live in. We positively encourage applications from all individuals irrespective of their gender, age, home country, ethnic background, sexuality, religious beliefs or disability. All candidates will be treated equally and all appointments made on merit.

The Board and Leadership team at Charity People is thrilled to be partnering with Amnesty International UK on their 2025 Board Recruitment.

Amnesty International UK:

Amnesty International UK operates in the UK as two distinct legal entities: Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust (‘the Charitable Trust’), and Amnesty International United Kingdom Section (‘the UK Section’). Each entity is governed by its own Board with the two working together and co-operating but remaining independent. Each Board operates and makes decisions based on the long-term interests of their respective entity and within the constraints imposed by applicable UK law, their separate constitutions and the overall rules of the global Amnesty International movement.

Finance, Audit and Risk Sub-Committee (FARSC):

The FARSC is a joint sub-committee of the boards of both the Amnesty International United Kingdom Section (‘Section’) and the Amnesty International UK Section Charitable Trust (‘Trust’).

The purpose of the FARSC are:

• To oversee the internal and external audit processes,
• To oversee the processes related to risk management and internal control including financial, reputational, compliance and other strategic and operational risks and controls,
• To oversee financial reporting. FARSC advises, and reports to, the Boards of Section and Trust.

How to Apply:

We will host a Q&A webinar with AIUK at 6pm on Wednesday 30th April 2025, where they will share further insights and answer any additional questions you may have. In the first instance send your CV and we will forward you the recruitment pack as well as the link to register to attend this webinar.

Timeline:

Closing date: 5pm 23rd May 2025

First Interviews: w/c 30th June

Final Interviews: w/c 7th July

Are you a spreadsheet whizz? Do you have a good understanding of financial procedures and accounting practices? If so, please apply to be our next trustee. It’s an exciting time to join us. We registered as a charity in 2023 and are now really focussing on building our fundraising profile and developing our next 3-year strategy.

Overall:

Be committed to the organisation and its work, to act with integrity and selflessness, and to be open, honest and accountable at all times. To understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship. Be willing to devote the necessary time and efforts to duties as a trustee and as a member of the organisation.

Duties & Tasks:

• To ensure that the organisation complies with and functions within the legal and financial requirements of its constitution, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and any other relevant legislation and regulations.
• To ensure that the organisation pursues objects as defined by its constitution and within aims, policies and procedures agreed by the Board of Trustees.
• With the other trustees to formulate and review the strategic aims and direction of the organisation.
• To promote the organisation and act always in its best interests. To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation and always strive to achieve best practice and the highest standards.

Formulating strategic aims

• Consider the organisation as a whole and its members, in the context of both national and local policies, priorities and political influences.
• Reflect the organisation’s vision and principles, strategy and policies at all times and particularly when developing the strategic and annual plan.
• Contribute specific strategic skills, interests and/or contacts
• Contribute to plans to positively promote the organisation to individuals, organisations and a wider audience e.g. potential members. 
• Support the organisation in all its activities in conjunction with the Chief Executive.

Ensuring policies and practices are in keeping with aims and objectives.

• Ensure that the organisation applies its resources in furtherance of its objects and manages its funds properly.
• Follow the organisations policies and procedures at all times, particularly when exercising the functions of the Board of Trustees.
• Contribute actively to and regularly attend meetings of the Board.

Ensuring best practice and highest standards.

• Be an active member of the Board of Trustees in exercising its responsibilities and functions.
• Support and maintain good relations with all staff; members, volunteers and other Board of Trustees.
• Take part in training sessions provided for the benefit of the Board Trustees.
• Fulfil such other duties and assignments as may be required from time to time by the Board of Trustees.
• Use your best judgment, knowledge, skills and experience to help the organisation and Board of Trustees to make sound decisions and be effective.
• To maintain a strategic view of the organisation and role as a trustee to support the Chief Executive in delivering the business plan and strategy.
• Should the trustee also take on an additional volunteer role for the organisation, to be clear on how the two roles are separate.
• To direct enquiries regarding advice, support or advocacy required into the staff team who can ensure that the person is directed to or referred into the appropriate service. 
• To not raise complaints on behalf of the Coalition without the express agreement of both the Co-Chair’s and the Chief Executive. 

In addition to the trustee requirements, the treasurer usually takes the lead at board level on:

• making sure the charity keeps proper accounts
• reviewing the charity’s financial performance
• drawing up or reviewing policies for finance and investment
• ensuring that the charity has robust and effective financial controls in place
• liaising with finance staff and with the charity’s independent examiner or auditor
• reporting on financial matters to the members

About Refugee Employment Network

The Refugee Employment Network (REN) unites non-profits, local authorities, and businesses to improve employment access for refugees across the UK. As the only national membership network focused solely on refugee employment, REN works to ensure that all refugees can pursue fulfilling, paid work or self-employment.

What will you be doing?

Join REN as Treasurer and play a key role in guiding the organisation’s strategic direction and financial sustainability. REN’s financial operations, including payroll, are managed externally, so the Treasurer’s input is primarily at a governance and advisory level rather than day-to-day financial administration.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise on REN’s financial strategy, planning, and resource allocation.
• Ensure the Board receives clear and timely financial updates, including Annual Accounts.
• Oversee the preparation of accounts in line with funder and statutory requirements.
• Recommend and monitor effective financial controls, procedures, and policies.
• Lead on the appointment and review of external auditors.
• Collaborate with the CEO to support financial planning and delivery of goals.
• Ensure compliance with funder conditions and financial reporting obligations.
• Provide oversight of financial risks and identify opportunities to strengthen REN’s financial position.
• Lead Board-level discussions on financial matters and contribute to policy on reserves, investments, and financial governance.

What are we looking for?

Essential:

• Passion for and commitment to Refugee Employment Network’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Experience of successfully dealing with strategic issues, interpreting complex information and business planning.
• Ability to collaborate, support and build relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable commitment to diversity and inclusion.
•  A recognised financial qualification or relevant experience in a strategic finance role.

Desirable:

• Experience serving as a Trustee or Treasurer, or working within the charity sector.

REN values equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and we encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity status, or socio-economic background.

What Difference will you make?

You won’t just be balancing numbers - you’ll be helping refugees build stable, hopeful futures through meaningful employment. As Treasurer, your insight will help REN make smart, strategic decisions that directly impact how we support thousands of people starting over in a new country. You’ll be a key voice in shaping how we grow sustainably, stay accountable, and make every pound count toward creating real, lasting change.

Time Commitment

• Board meetings are held either quarterly or every two months, and typically last 1.5 to 2 hours.
• Meetings are typically in London or virtually, offering flexibility for in-person or remote participation.
• We expect the time commitment to be up to 1.5 days a month. At times this may vary given the time of year.

Next year marks the centenary of the establishment of the Powell-Cotton Trust; it is an opportunity to embed good practice and sector leadership that enable us to secure the success of the next 100+ years of the Trust.

What will you be doing?

The Powell-Cotton Trust (PCT) is looking to recruit a new trustee with a finance specialism, in particular, who has experience and understanding of property and/or investment management.

This is an exciting time to join the board to provide governance and leadership for the Trust during a transformative period.  This began with our reopening for the 2025 season in February with the first instalment of a museum-wide renewal and interpretation project.  The extensive collection of late 19th and early 20th century cultural items from East Africa, and religious artefacts from Ethiopia, have been presented to focus on the people and communities which created and used the objects.  Until recent years, the galleries included object captions and text panels which reflected the interests, experiences, knowledge and perspectives of the Museum’s founder, Victorian explorer and hunter, Percy Powell-Cotton (1866-1940).  Now, the galleries have been completely revitalised with fresh interpretation bringing to the fore the objects themselves, their significance, the stories of their original owners and the communities to which they belonged.

The revitalised displays are the first results of a long-term collaboration between the Trust and its newly formed Community Advisory Group, aiming to bring accuracy and sensitivity to the presentation of the collections, lives, cultures and beliefs of people in communities whose histories and traditions are centuries old. 

Next year marks the centenary of the establishment of the Powell-Cotton Trust.  While the history of the Museum opening to the public dates back earlier than this, the Trust wish to mark this occasion; it is an opportunity to reflect on the past, to learn from the collection and our communities, to embed good practice and sector leadership that enable us to secure the success of the next 100+ years of the Trust.

What are we looking for?

It is essential that trustees should:

• Have the ability to think strategically and creatively, demonstrate objectivity, good judgement and analytical ability.
• Be willing to learn.
• Have good communication, team-working and inter-personal skills.
• Be tactful, diplomatic and able to build relationships.
• Be fair, impartial and open to new ideas.

It is desirable that Trustees have:

• An interest in natural history or ethnography and in museums and heritage.
• Experience of trusteeship/committee membership of a charity or other voluntary organisation.
• Live locally within Thanet or wider Kent.

What difference will you make?

The Board help the organisation achieve its vision to be an inclusive, engaging and collaborative centre of excellence enabling exploration of our world class collections and garden to deliver lifelong learning, research and social impact, locally, nationally and internationally.

To achieve this, we have 3 strategic aims that new Trustees will help support:

1. Financial Sustainability & Governance; we are on the cusp of receiving a significant inheritance that assures our financial future.  That said, we recognise that we can’t solely rely on this and must engage in actively growing our income from both fundraising and commercially based activities;
2. Collection Sustainability & Estate Infrastructure; we must continue to build on the hard work we have already started both in preserving the collection as well as developing the gardens. There needs to be a long-term plan and investment in both, with significant new developments of a Collection, Learning and Research facility;
3. Impact and Inclusion; we must continue to develop how we engage our audiences to ensure that we are relevant, available and inclusive to all, raising awareness of the Trust’s existence, and evaluating the impact we have on our visitors.  We must utilise technology to the fullest extent to make us accessible locally, nationally and internationally.

Before you apply

For an informal discussion with the Chair or a member of the Board, please contact us via the Reach website.

To apply for the post, please send a CV and covering letter explaining how you meet our requirements and why you are interested joining the Board to: Clare Valentine via the Reach website by Monday 19 May 2025.

The ASE is currently looking for a Trustee with a financial background to join our Trustee Body as Treasurer. This role will help to support the CEO, Director of Finance and Operations, Quality & Audit Committee and other Trustees in carrying out their financial responsibilities, in particular with respect to strategic financial planning.

Current focus remains on ensuring high impact, promoting membership growth and diversifying income streams.  As Trustee, you will help to shape and drive the strategy forward, ensure the association is financially stable, make key decisions on strategic and financial priorities, manage and mitigate risk, review and ensure policies and processes are fit for purpose and follow good standards of governance.  The Treasurer will work in consultation with and on advice from the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Operations. The role is one of strategic oversight rather than involvement in day to day financial tasks. 

The Trustee board is made up of experts from across the science education community - and includes teachers and retired teachers from primary, secondary and post 16 sectors as well as teacher educators, consultants and those working for voluntary organisations in the science education sector. 

The majority of the role will be fufilled in Trustee meetings - which meet up to four times per year (all scheduled to take place online)